Busy-ness and Crafty-ness

Well, I have been awfully busy lately with all the usual things. As if that isn't enough I've added a few extra projects to my list of things to do lately. Aside from filing my taxes, helping my grandmother file her taxes, and finishing my college application process I've also begun a couple of projects! These are my favorite kind.
A young woman I know has a military ball to attend soon, so I let her pick out one of my dresses. She picked one that's all in white, but decided she'd like to add some color to it. So, for the last week I have been altering a dress to fit her style. I wish I had taken some before pictures, but I will at least try to get some "after" pictures on here.
I also decided I wanted to try my hand at embroidery. Therefore I decided to make my son a new diaper bag, and embroider an owl on the front of it. My initial idea was to buy a good sized messenger bag and just do the embroidery on it. Wouldn't you know, messenger bags are obviously not all the rage anymore? I couldn't find a single one in stores! That's when I decided to make my own. All said and done, the total came to about $50. Add to that the fact that my daughter was with me and I felt a tad guilty making something for him and not her, so I told her to pick out a pattern for something she would like as well. She chose an apron. Simple pattern; cute fabric with little breast cancer awareness ribbons all over. I'm certain she didn't know what those meant, but oh well!
I have yet to start the apron or the bag, as the dress is something that I have to finish within a time frame. I have however started the embroidery of the owl on a piece of fabric while I lounge at my grandmother's house. Again, should have taken pictures, but I didn't. I'll try to get some and post them here soon! More to come later.....

Joyful Moments

Oh dear blog, how I've missed you. I've longed to write so much lately but haven't found in the time in the midst of raising children, working, searching for a new home, and applying for college. *sighs* Oh, the rat race of life. I wish I had great news for you, but nothing tremendously exciting has happened as of late. Many disappointments in the house hunting department. The joys of parenting have continued as normal. I can say that this evening at least I was driving home on a 3 hour trip across the state and found myself in a moment of bliss. Flipping through the radio I landed on an old song that brought me right back to my past in a rush of delightful feelings. I heard Your Love by the Outfield and there I was, back in 1997 riding in the back of Charles Jackson's GTO in the company of great friends while Charles hit the repeat button every time the song ended. For a moment I was there again, carefree and thinking, "Life doesn't get better than this...great friends, good music, summer nights." I was reminded of my love of music and how it can take you back to another place in time, memories tucked away in cobweb-filled corners of my mind. Suddenly I thought of Seal's Kissed From a Rose and how it was playing on the radio as my cousin and I left the hospital after seeing my Grandfather just after he lost his fight with cancer in 1995. I envisioned the lyrics of Bon Jovi's Make a Memory and recalled how it felt lying in my lovers arms and probing his memory about his relationship with his mother and father. Then I saw my sister back in 1994 standing before her bedroom mirror, curling her hair the way she always did as she bounced to the sound of a Salt-n-Peppa cd in her stereo. I saw myself lying on my dining room floor, tears streaming down my face as I sang along with Sarah McLachlan's Angel. I was weary, lying in my bathtub, crying again as I listened to the lyrics of Superchick's Beauty From Pain and marveled at how music artists have the ability to capture emotions so perfectly at times.
Then I was in my car again, smiling as I realized that I'm truly happy. I don't want to live with regrets, just want to know that my past has led me to where I am today. I accept that. I embrace that. I felt the woman that I am and how as I age I am learning to throw off inhibitions like a jacket worn on a cool morning that has turned warm on a sunny summer day. I though of my desire to love myself for who I am and smiled as I recalled that I am becoming that woman more and more with each passing day. I smiled, because the world can be a dark painful place, but moments of pure joy do exist, and they make it all worthwhile....